The work, which will begin next April, will be the largest refurbishment Buckingham Palace has been subject to in recent time. The Queen will remain in residence during the work – but will have to move bedrooms.

The work is being carried out because of aging cables, lead pipes, wiring and boilers that are of a substantial fire risk owing to their age. The government, nor indeed anybody, wants a repeat of the 1992 fire that gutted Windsor Castle.

Her Majesty was paid £40.1 million from the Sovereign Grant this year and another £13.9 million from other revenues like property rentals. The amount paid to The Queen through the Sovereign Grant is calculated by 15% of the amount the Crown Estate makes.

Each year the Sovereign Grant annual report is published with a detailed look at just everything the money goes towards. Below is a list from the lowest amount to the highest of how the money from the Sovereign Grant is divided.

£99,000 a year salary for the Earl of Peel, who is chairman of the Lord Chamberlain’s Committee

£209,000 severance packages for five employees, largest package was £50,000

£600,000 for Buckingham Palace renovation plans

£700,000 helicopter hanger at RAF Odiham

£700,000 for cleaning, laundry and other household chores

£1 million on postage and stationary-related costs

£1 million on car and train travel

£1.1 million on plane travel

£1.3 million for the new roof of the North Terrance of Windsor Castle. This was the single biggest item.

£1.4 million on food and drinks which includes the £80 a bottle of Pol Rodger champagne.

£1.6 million for Her Majesty’s 2015/16 gas and electricity bill

£1.7 million on helicopter travel

£2.6 million on technology systems for the household

£4 million on travel that covered the 3,000 official visits

£4.3 million for general property maintenance

And the largest portion of the Sovereign Grant is £19.5 for salaries of the 431 staff that The Queen employees.

And the other 85% of the income the Queen’s ancestral estates produce the government wastes on crap like refurbishing Houses of Parliament at Westminster while making sad despicable noises when asked why they haven’t maintained Buckingham since it belongs NOT to the Queen but to the government.

Donald Ellis

The British Monarchy is cheaper to maintain then the American Presidency. God Save the Queen! I loved my visit to Buckingham Palace for the summer opening, I do wish the government will fund the restoration. My British friends grump at the cost, but I point out that the Queen only receives 15% of the value of the Crown Estates, the rest goes to the government. People flock to the Britain to see its history of the monarchy, the historical past. People flock to the US to see our national parks and urban centers. I rather go and visit the United Kingdom. That is one American’s opinion.

Kat Love

So you are saying Americans should do away with American presidency? Don’t compare since they are totally different.